Carriage-return mechanism.



o. THIEME.

CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7,1911.

Patented Dec. 15,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M a?. 0770 Tfr/(aff.

0. THIEME..

CARRIAGE RETURN MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7, 1911.

. llzoa Patented Dec. 15,1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

. n 'i l "wig:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

OTTO THIEME'OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MOON-'HOPKINS BILLINGMACHINE COMPANY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

CARRIAGE-RETURN MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1.914.

Application led August 7, 1911. l Serial No. 642,888.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OTTO THIEME, a citi- Zenof the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Carriage-Return Mechanisms, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevationalview of my improved carriage return mechanism. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view ofthe same. Fig. 4is a detail view through the clutch mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detailshowing the means for locking the clutch mechanism.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in carriage returnmechanisms for typewriters and the like, the object being to operate thecarriage return mechanism by a continuously running motor.

My improvement is designed especially for use in connection with thecombined adding and calculating machine disclosed in French Patent No.383,719, dated January 16, 1908, which is also shown in application forUnited States Letters Patent No. 310,739, filed April 9, 1906.

My invention consists in providing means whereby upon the depressionk ofa key, a clutch is operated to place the carriage under control of thecontinuously running motor, whereby said carriage is returned, andinapproaching and reaching its normal position at the left, saidcarriage operates means to automatically disengage the motor from thecarriage.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of a machine, 2 shows thecarriage traveling upon suitable ways, and 3 is a platen provided withthe usual ratchet for line spacing the paper, with which coperates alfeed pawl 4. 5 is a rack, mounted upon a laten ally movable carriage,and with which cooperates a pinion 6 on the upper end of a shaft 7,mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine. This shaftcarries an escapement wheel 8, with which coperates the usual escapementpawls 9. In the normal operation of letter spacing, the escapementmechanism is operated either by the space key or one of the letter keys,so as to permit the carriage to move one step leftwardly under theimpelling action of a spring arranged in a drum 10, and connect ed tothe carriage by means of a cable 11 in a manner well known.

The lower end of shaft 7 carries a clutch member 12 (see Fig. 2), whichmembercooperates with a companion member 13 slidably mounted upon theupper 'end of a shaft 14. Shaft 14 is rotated continuously by means of amotor 15 and appropriate. gearing, as shown in Fig. 2, in a directionthat when the clutch members 12-13 are coupled, the pinion 6 meshes withthe rack 5 and moves the carriage toward the right, to restore it tonormal position. The clutch members 12-13, shown as interlockingmembers, are housed in a slotted sleeve 16, forming a bearing for theupper end of shaft 14, said sleeve containing anti-friction rollers 17so as to permit rod 19 to lift said sleeve without binding or crampingthe parts. Sleeve 16 is provided with a circumferential groove in itslower portion, which cooperates with a bifurcated plate 18, in thebifurcation of which said sleeve rotates, said plate being mounted uponthe lower end of a rod 19, guided in its vertical movelnent in suitableways, and whose up-v per end is beveled as shown.

20 indicates a rod supported by the frame of the machine, and having acollar 21 adjustably mounted thereon near its lower end. Below thiscollar, a block Q2 is slidingly mounted on the rod, which block formsthe pivotal bearing of a lever 23 having one end rounded and extendingunder the plate 18. A spring Q4 bears under block Q2, the lower end ofsaid spring being seated upon a plate 25, adjustable with respect toblock by means of the nuts 26. In this manner, the compression of spring24 may be regulated. Spring 27 connected to lever '23 tends at all timesto lift the outer end of said lever and depress its inner end, in whichdepressed position of the inner end` the clutch members 12-13 aredisengaged. QS indicates a rod connected to a key lever Q9, on theforward end of which is a key 30, preferably marked Car. ret, meaningcarriage return.77 In this manner, whenever the key 30 is depressed, thelever 23 isoperated to raise the clutch member 13 into cooperativerelation with the clutch member 1Q.

Shaft 7 has the clutch member 12 fixed y to itslower end, and saidshaft, as shown in Fig. 4, bears on the upper end of shaft aoY 14. Theupperend of shaft 14 is flattened where it passes between the rollers17, so that the slotted collar willbe caused to rotate with the shaft.The clutch member 13 is clamped in the slotted collar by means of a setscrew 13a, and is thus carried up into engagement with the clutch member12 whenever the slotted collar is raised. When'the slotted collar isAraised, the flattened upper end thereof still maintains drivingengagement with the roller 17l mounted in the slotted sleeve. As thecarriage moves tov-'ard the right, an adJustable .block 31 mountedthereon, through the.

medium of a pin 32 carried thereon, comes in contact with a slidingplate 33, mounted by means of a slot and pin connection upon the frameof the machine and normally held retracted by means of a spring 34. Oneend lof this plate 33 is provided with an inclined portion 33a,v whichis normally displaced with respect to the upper end of shaft 19 by meansof the spring 34. When, how- `ever, the carriage moves to the right (or'leftwardly in the rear view shown 1n Fig. 1), the pin 32 engages theplate 33 and moves the same over the end .of the shaft 19, so as todepress the shaft 19 and disengage the clutch members 12-13. When theclutch member 12 is depressed, and the bottom wall of the plate '33 liesover the shaft 19, as shown in Fig. 2, any effort to operate thecarriage return key 30 will only result in compressing spring 24 whichsupports the bloc in which lever 23 is mounted. When the carriage startsleftwardly, either by operation of the space key, a letter key or one ofthe tabulator keys, the bar 19 is released in readiness for anotheroperation.

In order to hold the rod 19 elevated or,v

depressed, and consequently the clutch members 12-`13 in or out ofoperative engagement, I provide the upper end of rod 19 with twocircumferential grooves 19a with which coperates a spring presse plunger19", the'spring behind said plunger being regulated by a screw 19C.

To automatically effect a line space when the carriage is spacedleftwardly, I extend the lever 4, on which the platen feed pawl ismounted, rearwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the rear end ofsaid lever will, when the carriage is'in such position that the leverlies to the left of the winged cam or plate 35, ride up over theinclined the typewriting mechamsm in the usualf way, by manuallyeffecting the line spaeing. Vhenever the carriage return key isoperated, however, the winged plate 35 is swung forwardly in the path ofthe projection 4, so as to automatically line space the paper. This isadvantageous in operating the platen to list a series of numbers incolumn order, *automaticallyreturning the carriage at each operationandsimultaneously effecting a line 'spacing thereof. The means forswinging the plate 35 into the path of the lever 4, consists of adependent rock arm 37, having a cam projection 37al thereon, which camprojection cooperates With a cam projection on the upper end of a bar37', carried by an arm 38 fixed on the end of a sleeve 39 mounted on ashaft 40. The opposite end of this sleeve carries an arm 41, whose endis bifurcated and engages the plate 18. In this manner, whenever theclutch 12-13 is thrown into engagement, the arm 37 is raised, and the.winged plate 35 moved into the path of the pawl lever 4a, to e'ect linespacing. In order to hold the winged plate normally out of he path ofthe lever 4, I provide same with a Hat leaf spring 35tl as shown in Fig.3, which engages the pawl race rail with which the traveling carriagecoperates. The upper end of the winged plate is also provided with a pin35", to space the same rom the pawl race rail and properly position itwith respect to the lever 4a. The winged plate is loosely mounted onshaft 36, and straddles a collar 37b xed to said shaft, said collarbeing notched, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the lower free end of thefiat leaf spring vieldingly, and rock thel Winged plate with the shaft.If the pawl carrying lever 4 should lie in front of the winged plate ata time when the carriage return key was depressed, the said winged platewould be arrested in its forward movement by contacting with the lever4, but such arrest of the winged plate would not interfere with thecontinued rocking movement of the shaft 36, ,which rocking movementwou-ld be permitted by the lower end of the lever spring yieldin underthe movement of the collar 37". W en the carriage return key Wasreleased and the parts restored to normal position, the winged platewould occupy a position to the rear of the path of travel ofthe lever4*:1 as usual, due to the action of the lower end of the flat leafspring restablishing the normal operative position between the collar36a and said winged plate. The lefthand end of the winged plate 35 ispreferably' flared rearwardly, so that in the event it should be in itsnormal position at a time when the carriage is being moved leftwardly,the pawl "bell crank lever 43, and to' said plate are lever 48l willdisplace said winged plate and move past the same.

43 is a bell crank lever mounted in the frame and having one of4 itsarms connected .by a rod 45 to the lever 41. A plate 44 is locatedbehind the depending ariii of the connected mds, one of which. is 'shownmarked The armangement of these parts is such that when-the rod 42 isdrawnjforward, the plate 44 is moved up behind the bell crank lever 43to prevent the same from rocking', in which position, by means' of 4therod 45, the bell crankf'lever 143v holds the lever 41 .down and theclutch disengaged.

What I claim is- 1. The combinationof a paper carriage and itsescapement mechanism, comprising a rack on the carriage, aA pinionmeshing with the racka shaft on which said pinion is mounted, anescapement wheel on said shaft and pallets cooperating with saidescapement wheel, and a carriage return mechanism comprising. acontinuously running sha-ft 1n almement wlth sa1d first mentioned shaft,clutch members on said two shafts,

i its raclnand pinion, of a shaft on which said' and. means for throwingsaid clutch members into and out of engagement.

2. The combination of a laterally movable k 3. The ycombination of apapi' carriage,

its rackand pinion, of a shafto which said pinion is mounted, a clutchmember on the lower end of said shaft, a continuously ro- .tatinfr shaftin alinement withl the first mentione shaft, a sleeve mounted on the endof said continuously rotating shaft, said sleeve rotating with saidshaft,but having a movement longitudinally the shaft, a clutch membercarried by said sleeve and means for moving said sleeve and its carriedclutch member lengthwise the rotating shaft.

4. The combination of a paper carriage,

pinion is mounted, an escapement mechanism coperatmg with said shaft, aclutch member arranged on the lower end of said shaft,

a constantly rotating shaft in alinement with 'Said first mentionedshaft, a clutch member slidingly-mountedon the upper end of saidconstantly rotating shaft, a sleeve in which said lastmentioned clutchmember is mounted, rollers carried by said sleeve for coperating withthe flat faces of said rotating shaft, and means engaging the sleeve forl moving the same and itscarried clutch member longitudinally the shaft.

5. .The combination of a paper carriage, a

continuously running motor, a clutch mechanism interposed between Vsaidmotor and said carriage, means-'for engaging said clutch mechanismwhereby the carriage is restored rtonormal position, means on' theclutchv mechanism for holding it in engagement, means copera'ting withthe clutch engaging mechanism to disengage the clutch, and means mountedon the carriage for operating said last mentionednneans.

6. The combination of a paper carriagev `and its escapement mechanism,of a continuously rotating clutch member for reversely rotating aportion of said escapement mechanism, means for moving said drivingclutch member into operative position to effect `such reverse rotation,means on said clutch for retaining it in operative position, and means YI on the carriage for actuating said clutch operatirg mechanism todisengage said clutch l i a carriage. y

7. The combination of" a paper carriage, of a carriage returnmechanismtherefonof 'a line spacing mechanism, a hinged plate 'normallyout of thepath of movement of pre-determined position of the mounted,and means for rocking said shaft and moving said hinged plate into thepath of movement of said line spacing mechanism.

9. In a carriage return mechanism, a continuously rotated shaft, asecond shaft `axially alined therewith,`and adapted to engage thecarriage, and clutch mechanism adapted to operatively connect saidshafts.

10. The combination of a paper carriage,

carriage return mechanism, a clutchitherep for, line spacing mechanism,a cam plate for actauting the line spacing mechanism, and means forsimultaneously moving the clutch and the cam plate into operativeposition.

11. The combination with a paper` carriage and its escapementmechanism', of a continuously running motor, a clutch interposed betweensaid motor and said escapement mechanism forengaging the two to returnthe carriage to normal position, opcrating -means for the clutch, and anadjustable member ooperating with -the` said operating means and adaptedto yield when the operating means fis operated while the clutch isretained in inoperativeA position. L

'12. In combination, a paper carriage, a rack carried thereby, a. pinionmeshing with Said rack, a continuously running, motor, a clutchinterposed between said motor and said pinion, a lever for operatingsaid clutch, and an adjustable fulcrum for said lever.

13. In combination, a paper carriage,- a continuously running motor, aclutch mechanism interposed between said motor and said carriage,operating means for engaging said clutch mechanism whereby the carrlageis restored t-o normal position, means forA .holding the cltch mechanismout of engagement under predetermined conditions, and a flexible meanscoperating with the operating means and adapted to yield under pressure'exerted upon the operating means.

14. The combination of a papercarriage, means for moving said carriagelaterallyA in one direction, a continuously running motor geared to movesaid carriage in the opposite direction, a clutch interposed betweensaid motor and said carriage, operating means under control of theoperator for throwing said clutch into operative position, means forpreventing said clutch from being thrown into operative position whenthe carriage is home, and a yielding means cooperating with `theoperating means and adapted to receive stresses therefrom.

15. In a carriage .return mechanism, a clutch, means for operating the'clutch, and flexible means coperatin withsaid operating means and adapteto yield under stress therefrom when the clutch is held in inoperativeposition.

16. In a writing machine, the combination of a paper'carriage, acarriage return meoh anism therefor, a line-spacing mechanism on saidcarriage, a cam for actuating said linesnacing mechanism on returnmovement of the carriage, and a key `for rendering said carriage returnmechanism eli'ective and for moving said camvto operative position.

In testimony whereof 'I hereunto alix my signature inthe presence of twowitnesses, this 5 day'of August, 1911.

OTTO THIEME.

Witnesses: I

M. P; SMITH, J. HUTTON.

